All about gardening - plants, cultivation, weed and pest control and what's happening here in Appalachian Ohio at Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery and Botanical Garden.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Forsythia 'Kumson'

I think I need to take a new picture of this one when the leaves come out, but you can see the wonder gold veining on the green leaves. Stems are red, at least on the new growth in the spring. It was originally sold to me as a smaller plant, but as is the case with a lot of things sold as smaller plants, it was truly a full sized forsythia and is not longer in its place right along a walk, but set back farther into the landscape. Pruning forsythias is no problem and they can be kept in check, but it does take time because they seem to grow continuously. I have several that are pruned monthly during the summer and fall. It doesn't seem to affect their blooming since any stem that is left will bloom all along its length. Those things that bloom only at the tips shouldn't be pruned in fall if they're spring bloomers or you will lose the bloom. Forsythia is just so adaptable, but many people are afraid of adding it because of its potential size. I don't like it when it is pruned as a right ball - that's just not natural, but keeping it in bounds and pruning off shoots which touch the ground and will root and eventually form a thicket is probably a good idea (unless a thicket is what you're after!)

1 comment:

just found your blog at Blotanical. I'm looking forward to reading more!

I work at a small, family-owned nursery in the Chicago area. I just love my job, and the mom and pop I work for. I enjoy reading blogs by nursery owners - lots of insight to learn from.

I just planted a 'garden variety' forsythia. I've been wanting one since I moved here. I've miss having branches to force. And my forsythia will grow in it's natural, lovely shape! I dislike seeing them pruned into strange shapes, especially since their natural shape is so graceful. I put mine where it can get to it's full normal size.